If you are reading this, first & foremost, thanks for being a part of Madeleine--I enjoy every message & glance at my writings as I am glad to share a passion for a world less hectic, more authentic, with you. As we're already salivating at the prospect of next year's menu's, here's some favorite shots of Italian moments from 2007 (click on the images for a better view)
Salumi galore gathered from Brooklyn to Schenectady's little Italy shared with Italian friends & family.
Heaven comes to those who wait... Standing in line for two hours for Brooklyn's best pizza. (Somehow we got ours before the striped lady & the L.A. couple ahead of us. YES!!!) The best moments I spent in NYC.
Dinner with bro-in-law David O'Hara 's favorite restaurant in
the Bronx's little Italy, Dominick's, where the wait staff looks like
goodfellas & they don't give you a menu...
Okay, so who couldn't wait until we took pictures? All of us I guess.
When it's good you've got to dive in! David, you're a lucky dog, living
in the Bronx. Can't wait to see you again!
A taste of the old world at the Calabria Pork Store on Arthur Avenue... Unfuhgeddable! 
This is as good as it gets--Calandra's Cheese. The ladies in line all seemed a foot shorter than me & spoke only Italian. God bless the Bronx.
Madonia Brother's Bakery where I discovered prosciutto bread & felt like the smallest lady in the room. Darn! They didn't give away that recipe in the Arthur Avenue cookbook, but I saw one in Elenora's Kitchen whose brother incidentally worked at a bakery on Arthur Avenue. Hmmm... Could it be Madonia?
Mike's Deli, the epicenter of Arthur Ave. As soon as we walked by the counter, the guy behind it said, "You look hungry!" & indeed we came back hungry at the end of our tour. These sandwiches came back with us on the plane, the best travel food imaginable. Hey, if they make sandwiches for Yankee Stadium, why can't they cater for American Airlines??? I'd trade frequent flier miles for their sandwiches, anyday. Check out the glimpse of broccoli raab in the deli case.
Inside Arthur Avenue's thriving market... Feeling like a proud New Yorker at Mike's Deli, I was given away by my inherited mid-western accent: "Are you from Chicago?" But I moved to Schenectady when I was five! Give me some pasta fazool, already...
But let's not forget Schenectady's little Italy. Thanks to my mom, I always get to take a taste of home back with me. Perreca's makes one of my favorite breads in the world, old world-style.
Schenectady is
apparently on the up-swing, so I hope places like this will continue to exist without getting run-over by condo developers. Walking in to Perreca's, the smell alone makes me want to move back east--an incredible perfume of slow-cooked zuppas, artisanal breads, & sandwiches my mamu couldn't resist...
Could somebody please tell me what this is bread used for?
Our last shopping spot was Garofalo's, founded in 1909 by our friend Fran Loeffler's family. The service was surly, cameras were definitely not welcome as we found out, but a few shots we took might give you reason to plunder their stash.
This is where the old-timers come, & beware anyone 
undercover foodies.
"Did you take enough pictures?!!" one of the red-headed sisters scowled. "It's really ANNOYING." Oh, the perils of blogging... Thank you, Ken, for taking the heat!
And when all else, fails, there's always a Reuben from Gershon's with a kosher dill on the side!!! Now that really hits the spot... I LOVE NY! (note to Seattle, I love you too, especially after eating at Buddha Ruksa tonight.)
And a very happy New Year to you all. Hope you're hungry!
Holy hell woman! I'm drooling over here!!! Note to self: Must make a trip to NYC soon. Mmm....until then, thanks for the visual fix. :)~
Posted by: Traca | December 29, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Got yer cell Fone numero and will call soon - just back from AmeriKa and Edison - where we got Torta Rustica - mama mia - and a Turkey San to go - at Chelan's Farm to Market Bakery where we talked to Chelan a bit then swooped up to Slough Foods and picked up some Mole Salami and Proscuitto to tide us thru Jan.
You know if you keep up with these reports from the mouthwatering gourmandy people may well begin to "talk".
I'm quite content - but want to see you up close and personal before we head South. We have train tickets leaving the 1st of Feb. Anne is flying up and will be driving our Blue Soob south and dropping us off at the Station... get yer ticket at the station for the Shasta Daylight.
There's a Poetry Read at the Library on Jan 25th - we also have Reads in April, Late June, late Sept., mid November, etc. Love you my sweetling and your fine photographer - yes, we know that's not all he's good at.
Ms.G
Posted by: Ms.G | December 29, 2007 at 09:20 PM
Hi Tom,
So glad you got a chance to enjoy the blog & a trip to Slough Foods. Who would have thunk you could get Salumi in Edison? Wow, thanks for the tip about the Torta Rustica! We always pay a visit to the Bread Farm when we're in the neighborhood but have not made it to Farm to Market Bakery... Is the Rustica worth a trip? I have recipes for it in some of my new x-mas cookbooks & want to give it a try. We'll be seeing you soon--can't wait!
Traca!
So glad you had some free time to catch up with Madeleine. I meant to send you an email saying how sorry I was to hear about your stolen computer--WHAT A BUMMER!!! I saw a friend of yours at Span Tab (one of the ladies from the night at Tavolata) & she told me that your blog was taking a new direction. Really liked your walking tour of Seattle & it inspired me to do some photo-journalistic entries myself, like this one.
I just listened to your phone message & yes, let's please get together in person! Would love to see you soon now that the retail holiday madness is over.
As always, thanks for the comments--they make my day & push me forward!
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